Burn Bootloader error....ARGH!

Official Hardware UNO Family UNO R3
1

I NEED HELP!
I have spent the last 4 hours trying to simply burn a bootloader, thinking I can do this quite simply. I read the entire page found here

and after encountering a few errors, I went ahead and did the usual, swap usb cables, use other arduinos, reconnect/check/recheck the wiriing connections, and NOTHING. I get the same errors that make me believe this arduino is GARBAGE.

I apologize for the rant.

I am using an arduino Mega 2560 as my programmer to burn the bootloader on an arduino uno R3. I have connected the two via ICSP pins, and via the digital pins and no change in the error.

Before I began this process I did perform the loopback test and everyone was 100 there.

So following instructions, I enabled verbose output and will paste those results here.

"C:\Users\ae86d\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude" "-CC:\Users\ae86d\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf" -v -patmega328p -cstk500v1 -PCOM4 -b19200 -e -Ulock:w:0x3F:m -Uefuse:w:0xFD:m -Uhfuse:w:0xDE:m -Ulfuse:w:0xFF:m

avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

     System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\ae86d\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf"

     Using Port                    : COM4
     Using Programmer              : stk500v1
     Overriding Baud Rate          : 19200
     AVR Part                      : ATmega328P
     Chip Erase delay              : 9000 us
     PAGEL                         : PD7
     BS2                           : PC2
     RESET disposition             : dedicated
     RETRY pulse                   : SCK
     serial program mode           : yes
     parallel program mode         : yes
     Timeout                       : 200
     StabDelay                     : 100
     CmdexeDelay                   : 25
     SyncLoops                     : 32
     ByteDelay                     : 0
     PollIndex                     : 3
     PollValue                     : 0x53
     Memory Detail                 :

                              Block Poll               Page                       Polled
       Memory Type Mode Delay Size  Indx Paged  Size   Size #Pages MinW  MaxW   ReadBack
       ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
       eeprom        65    20     4    0 no       1024    4      0  3600  3600 0xff 0xff
       flash         65     6   128    0 yes     32768  128    256  4500  4500 0xff 0xff
       lfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
       hfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
       efuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
       lock           0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
       calibration    0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00
       signature      0     0     0    0 no          3    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

     Programmer Type : STK500
     Description     : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
     Hardware Version: 2
     Firmware Version: 1.18
     Topcard         : Unknown
     Vtarget         : 0.0 V
     Varef           : 0.0 V
     Oscillator      : Off
     SCK period      : 0.1 us

avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000
avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature.
Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
this check.

avrdude done. Thank you.

Failed chip erase: uploading error: exit status 1

I have read and reread the troubleshooting tips at the burning a bootloader link and nothing has been giving me the done burning bootloader.

If anyone can please help me out and take a look at my error and possibly point me in the right direction, that would be AMAZING!!! I have spent WAY too much time on this dang arduino and now its either a matter of principal that I get it working, or (rather difficult to swallow my pride) give up and toss it in the recycling bin.

2

Either the target is broken or you have a wiring error. What is the history of the chip that you're trying to program.

https://docs.arduino.cc/built-in-examples/arduino-isp/ArduinoISP/ mentions a capacitor; I do not know if it is needed, the article that you linked states (at the end) that it is not needed.

3

Hello @sterretje Thats a fantastic question. I am not entirely sure on the history of the chip. What I find most interesting is that starting from STEP ONE, I am able to proceed all the way up to the very end and I am hit with error after error with no sign of luck. I was REALLY trying to get this arduino working as a small temperature controller for a cabinet I have and I didnt want to utilize one of the Mega 2560's that I have (talk about overkill).

Regarding the capacitor, I was just considering throwing it on one of these Megas just to try it out although I did read at the bottom of the link that the revision 3 Megas no longer require them. Interesting enough ONE of my megas is FOR SURE a revision 3 and the other I am not positive on.

4

I guess that that means that you might have a faulty chip and you probably try to burn the boot loader because you could no longer do normal uploads via USB.

5

All R3s come with a bootloader.
Why did you think it needed a bootloader?
Did you check to see if it already had a bootloader?

6

Thats basically why I began troubleshooting the board to begin. I was not able to upload any sketches. Once I failed to load the Bareminimum sketch from the Arduino IDE, I decided to read up and try burning the bootloader.

7

Thanks for questions.
I concluded the bootloader was corrupt after performing a loopback test and that came up fine. I did not check to see if the uno had an existing bootloader. How can I do this?

8

If you press the reset button and the LED blinks about 3 times, then the bootloader is there and the IC is functioning.

I concluded the bootloader was corrupt after performing a loopback test and that came up fine. I

That is highly unlikely, it was probably something else and as you are finding out, it probably was something else.

9

I did press the reset button a various amount of times with NO resulting blinks.

as far as the loopback test; it tested good. I followed this

and was able to move on with my troubleshooting.
I appreciate ALL feedback. I have not had any signs of life from reaching out so far however, I have been getting closer and closer to just giving up on this board....

10

If it has the 28 pin DIP IC in the socket, you could start futher dedugging by checking continuity and voltages. You will need to download the schematic to see where to probe.
If it's the small soldered on IC, then time for the trash

11

GO on... You have my full attention! I have the socketed version. Where could I find a diagram for identifying voltages and continuity for the pins?

12

If it a genuine Arduino R3 then the schematic is on the page.

So first thing to do is check if all the IC ground pins are connected to GND. THIS MUST BE DONE WITH NO POWER CONNECTED TO THE BOARD.

Then apply power (via USB) and check to see if you have 5V on all the power pins.

13

I have downloaded the datasheet for the atmel atmega328p and will begin probing after I read through this some. I appreciate the lightbulb from your post.

14

I would not bother with the datasheet unless you want to.
The R3 schematic and the 328 pinout is all you need for now.

AT_328
AT_328769×526 52.4 KB

The pins in red should be 5V as well as AREF

15

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Finally I am getting some answers.
I do not have 5V or 3.3V on pin 7 or pin 20. HOWEVER, I DO have 5 volt on pin 21 AREF. Gnds appear to be all good.

16

Do you have your meter negative connected to one of the GND pins?

17

yes

18

This issue definitely has piqued my interest now. I have always enjoyed trying to track down faulty electrical components!

19

Well, without 5V on 7 and 20 it won't work, However, having 5V on AREF is unexpected but not impossible.
Next thing to to is remore the IC and check to see if there is voltage on 7 and 20. You need a small screwdriver and gently pry up the IC on the ends. Do one side at a time and a little at at time. Make sure power is OFF.

Double check those voltages before you go further

20

Checked and rechecked. Voltages are the same as with the chip in place
NO voltage on pin 7 or pin 20.
5 volt is present at pin 21
There is continuity between pins 8 and 22